This post contains details from the Season 3 finale ofABCsAbbott Elementary.
Naturally, the documentary crew was also invited along for the ride.
This party is something that she wouldnt have probably done that long ago.
From left:: Quinta Brunson, Courtney Taylor and Benjamin Norris in ‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 3 finaleDisney/Gilles Mingasson
Now shes kind of in a different place.
Its not long before things get a little more wild than Janine signed up for.
Shes still Janine, right?
So its still very over planned.
She wants to control, essentially, the chaos of life, Halpern continued.
And ultimately, what we want her to learn is you have to just let go.
She just kisses him back.
It just felt like the right time, Brunson said of the much-anticipated scene.
PATRICK SCHUMACKER:With Barbara, it was too tempting not to have Sea Barbara make an appearance.
We just love seeing Barbara and Melissa act in tandem.
It felt like a little bit of a generational thing.
[Mr. Johnsons] always got a side thing happening.
Yeah, I guess.
We wanted to try and put a little bit of a button on Jacob and Zach.
It felt like this was yet another thing that could trickle down from Janines master plan.
Was that always the plan?
Shes always talking about that.
Those large changes happen outside of here.
So this felt like the right time.
Those things are just irreplaceable for her.
Thats why we didnt make the people who worked in the district like boogeymen, even the superintendent.
Hes just talking about the realities of what he has to do in his job.
Thats what we wanted to show her character and ultimately the audience.
DEADLINE:I have to say, I am sad to see those district characters go.
Is there potentially room for them to return?
QUINTA BRUNSON:I think in essence, their arc is closed.
But, because they are district members, I think we totally can see those people again.
Honestly, the reason why is just scheduling.
These actors, fortunately, become a part of other great projects and other great shows, great movies.
So Id always like to keep all of our characters around.
We didnt really know hed be a continual returning character.
Were having the same experience with Cree Summer, who played the librarian this year.
But Crees got a lot going on.
So shell continue to be part of the fabric of our world.
DEADLINE:We have to discuss Janine and Gregorys kiss.
They had worked on themselves enough.
Theyre two very measured people, right?
These arent two characters who just throw caution to the wind.
Its like, I dont really give a shit about anything else other than this feels right.
DEADLINE:I love that they both keep saying theyre in their F it era, of sorts.
But when given the opportunity to act on impulse, they absolutely do still overthink things.
HALPERN:You know why?
Because people in their 20s are full of sh*t. [Laughs].
They think that they know everything that they f*cking want, and they absolutely dont.
DEADLINE:How did Janine leaving Abbott potentially help this trajectory?
And then the second season, he made the choice to learn how to be a teacher, really.
I felt that was important for him with the goofballs.
Its beyond just sitting in the classroom and teaching or being there between certain hours.
For a lot of educators, its helping to provide guidance and extracurricular activities for students.
Thats the kind of thing that really made you a part of a place.
Its making you a part of the community, as opposed to someone whos just there.
DEADLINE:Does this mean theyre going to date?
Whats their relationship status going into Season 4?
SCHUMACKER:We havent started the writers room yet.
We start off actually only in two weeks.
But were not in the business of buying things back.
DEADLINE:I love that before the kiss, Janine gets some sage advice from Mr. Johnson.
BRUNSON:There were two reasons.
I thought it was just very serendipitous for her to find somewhat of a father figure in Mr. Johnson.
Weve seen him kind of have those moments with Gregory, but not with her.
You mentioned him causing chaos earlier at the door.
But clearly, they are two characters who have a magnetic pull to get to each other.
Its just as important as planning and making important, well thought out decisions.
HALPERN:He lives in chaotic neutral, really.
He would have perspective on this.
And if you caught him in the right moment, you would get it.
DEADLINE:You mentioned having more ideas that may not have fit this season because of the shorter length.
What are you looking forward to about having another full season to flesh things out?
BRUNSON:Its so interesting.
Before we went into the 14-episode season, I was over the moon.
I was like, Oh, thank God.
Because 22 is a lot.
Im so excited to tell more stories in the school again.
So Im looking forward to creating those in-school arcs again.
Im so looking forward to holiday episodes again.
Those are just fun.
Im looking forward to having more of that kind of fun.
In this third season, had a lot of different shifts.
For instance, us having an Oscars episode was a shift for us schedule wise, tone wise.
I am looking forward to getting back to regularly scheduled programming.
